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Located less than 35 km from Dubrovnik (22 miles) Trebinje area in Bosnia and Hercegovina is a world of its own, completely different than the coastal area of Dubrovnik Riviera. Limestone hills, small fertile pockets of land following the Trebišnjica river flow, flocks of sheep and goats grazing, and endless fields of vineyards will capture your imagination instantaneously.
The differences are not only visible in the landscape, but also in the culture. Unlike Dubrovnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been ruled by Turks for centuries, and this has influenced architecture, religion, customs ... In Herzegovina you will feel a breath of the Orient, see many Orthodox churches, monasteries, mosques, oriental motifs. You will eat specialties such as roasted lamb or veal, ćevapi, burek, baklava, drink Turkish coffee ... In addition to the above, you can taste top Herzegovinian wines in local wineries, see the former railway and much more. |
Description
After the pick-up from the hotel you will drive from Dubrovnik to the border crossing with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Ivanica. After about an hour's drive from Dubrovnik you will come to Trebinje, a picturesque town on the banks of the river Trebišnjica, on the edge of the great Popovo field. The city was built in oriental style, but most of the inhabitants today are Serbs. Since they are mostly Orthodox, you will also see numerous Orthodox churches and monasteries. You will have a guided city tour and free time for a drink/shopping. The next stop is at the top of Gracanica hill above Trebinje for great panoramic views of the city. Here, our guide can explain to you the geography of the area and show all the spots that you will visit during the tour. A visit to the Orthodox monastery of Gracanica is also possible.
After Gracanica hill you will visit the traditional restaurant with homemade food in authentic village atmosphere. You can choose between meat, fish or vegetarian home made dishes and drink local wines, beers, liquers...
From Trebinje you will drive a further 5 km away to the Orthodox monastery of Tvrdos where monks have been producing wine for centuries until they blew up the monastery when it was about to be taken over by the Ottomans in the 18th century. We will visit their church, ancient cellars and taste some of their best white and red wine. Your guide will explain the wines and the current hard-working monk lifestyle.
After Tvrdos you will continue driving through the beautiful Popovo field to the village Zavala where the Vjetrenica cave is located. This is the largest cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the most biodiverse cave in the world. So do not miss the opportunity to visit this unique cave. A local guide will show you the most hidden parts of the cave and tell you many interesting facts about its flora and fauna. After Vjetrenica you will continue to the neighboring village of Ravno and stop at the building of the former railway station where the restaurant is located today. You will learn the details of the former railway traffic in this area and have a short break for refreshments.
This is followed by a return to Croatia via the Čepikuće border crossing. During the ride you will pass through the villages in the Dubrovnik hinterland and return to Dubrovnik from the west.
The estimated duration of this round trip around Herzegovina is about 9 hours.
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